AMERICAN SONGWRITER: “Smither’s deep, mellifluous rustic voice has aged but has never sounded better and longtime associate David Goodrich’s sympathetic production makes it seem these tunes were recorded live on his front porch, even when cello and violin underscore the music’s deep feeling.”

THE WASHINGTON POST: “Smither’s country-blues guitar picking sparkles on every number, usually supported by Morphine drummer Billy Conway and cellist Kris Delmhorst. Smither’s baritone can be as comforting as a wool blanket, but it usually contains a hidden barb. ‘It ain’t what it is that’s such a sin,’ he croons with deceptive ease, ‘it’s what it might have been.’”

BOSTON GLOBE: “Chris Smither has hardly tweaked his formula over the past 30 years. He doesn’t need to. His catalog is rich with albums that don’t reinvent his acoustic folk and blues, but rather refine his style with each new release.”

PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER: “Nobody philosophizes to the blues quite like Chris Smither. On his 12th album, the singer and guitarist continues to be a spellbinding blend of the elemental and the erudite, with a deft touch and often droll undertone that allows him to go deep without getting ponderous or pretentious.”